Show summary Hide summary
The Easyriders team says the September/October issue is finished, even as staff race to prepare exhibits and get Bonneville machines ready for the salt. Work ranges from gallery installations in Sturgis to last-minute mechanical checks on race bikes ahead of the rally.
Sturgis prep and shop updates
At the Emporium on Main Street, staff began installing an Easyriders exhibit next door while also handling routine property work — hired help cleared overgrown weeds after a resident complaint. The publisher is simultaneously sorting insurance details for the magazine’s Bonneville racers.
Triumph Bonneville T40: 398cc single-cylinder powers the 2027 T40
Bikernet releases pre-rally weekly newsletter dated July 23, 2026
Departure Bike Works is coordinating transport for the Bonne Belle, described as a 45‑flathead sister to the AW 120‑inch Panhead. The plan is to haul the bike to Bonneville in the back of a pickup and then load the support van with pop‑ups, tools and a lift as soon as the rally schedule allows.
Rally teasers: builds and a tribute
Builders are sharing previews ahead of the rally. Mad Cabana Dan and his partner have completed a striking purple trike and provided images teasing their plans. New artwork by Danial James will be unveiled at an Easyriders party at the shop on Main on Sunday the 9th; the piece is presented as a tribute to artist David Mann.
Who’s behind the weekly bulletin
The Bikernet Weekly News is credited to a small, persistent staff: The Redhead, Wayfarer, LA Laura, Viscous Vickie, Danial James, the Freak Show Team, Sturgis Prospect Kendra, Paul Davis, Agent Zebra and Berry Wardlaw. Their reporting covers builds, events and race logistics during the rally season.
5‑Ball Racing: Bonneville checklist
Mechanic Berry Wardlaw of Accurate Engineering in Dothan, Alabama, filed a technical update on the 5‑Ball Racing Bonneville effort. The team installed a new control dash with master power, nitrous arming, ignition and a safety tether. Wiring and terminals were tested and repaired; one circuit breaker and a relay were found defective and replaced.
They also fitted a Dyna 2000i ignition and configured a four‑degree retard for nitrous engagement. The Mychron 3 timing/display unit is functioning again after repairs, and the crew has updated two broken channel sensors.
New gear: RMJ Tactical’s Lincoln Two Finger
RMJ Tactical introduced a compact brass two‑finger piece following its four‑finger Lincoln model. Nicknamed the Lincoln Ball Buster at the shop, the two‑finger version weighs about 4 ounces and carries a vintage patina finish for a distinctive look.
The company frames these items as novelty or utility pieces rather than everyday carry. RMJ Tactical advises buyers to check local laws before carrying such an item, noting rules vary by state and permits may be required in some places.
Where Easyriders is headed editorially
The publisher laid out a clear editorial mantra: the magazine will focus on themes of freedom, innovation, performance, and the cultural life around motorcycles. Staff say they intend to cover the gritty realities, celebrations, histories and business side of the custom scene — not only the pure chopper aesthetic.
Planned coverage includes all forms of custom bikes and racing, plus features on mentorship programs that introduce young people to motorcycles and print media. The team expects to be at Bonneville later this month to report on the racing effort and to support the sport directly.
On policy and industry debates, the publisher said he wants the magazine to engage with meaningful issues affecting riders and small businesses. He contrasted that aim with other publications that, in his view, avoid substantive topics. He also noted a recent instance in which the Motorcycle Riders Foundation declined to host an expert he had arranged for a legislative conference.
Exhibits, posters and rally displays
The Easyriders site will offer a Danial James centerfold poster tied to the magazine’s history. This year, three figures associated with Easyriders are slated for induction into the Sturgis Motorcycle Hall of Fame as founders of the magazine, and the publisher plans to make more high‑quality prints available.
Dakota Annie is assembling a jewelry case of items that will be displayed at the Emporium during the rally, and photographer Michael Lichter is assisting with exhibit cards and related materials.
More updates are expected as the rally approaches and the team finishes final preparations for shows, exhibits and the Bonneville campaign. Organizers are urging participants to travel carefully and follow safety protocols at events.
